Hybrid Teaching at City St. George’s, University of London

Face to face physically. This can provide the best interactive teaching and help community building, but timetabling slots are not always ideal and travel can be time-consuming and expensive.
Face to face synchronously online, using Microsoft teams or Zoom. https://city-uk-ett.libguides.com/staff/live-online-teaching The software provides tools for collaboration etc and can provide some possible advantages e.g. for joint production of documents, and less travel. However it can be challenging to get all students to turn cameras on and participate fully.
Hybrid/ISLA. This provides Hybrid/ISLA. This provides flexibility, allowing students to choose how they participate. Well-run it can provide very good interaction, but it needs planning to engage all students effectively.
Lecture Capture/ pre-recording. https://city-uk-ett.libguides.com/staff/lecture-capture Lecture capture is a fall-back where students can’t attend – it should not be used as a mode of delivery. Pre-recorded lectures of good quality can allow face to face time to be used more interactively.
Live streaming. This can provide some flexibility and assist in dealing with large cohorts. However, there is no inter-action for students online.

Is flexibility desirable? ISLA is good at providing flexibility as regards attendance mode, while still ensuring all students can play a full part in a class. However, there needs to be sufficient control through a clear policy on attendance options, and staff need training to use ISLA effectively.
Is the use of hybrid pedagogically sound? It should be clear why use of ISLA is pedagogically justified for delivery. It should not be used just to deal with a practical issue like dealing with a class seen to be timetabled at an inconvenient time.
Cohort size? ISLA can assist with cohort size, as fewer students will be in the room physically. However it is an inter-active form of delivery that is not suitable for very large cohorts, unless the class is delivered more than once to split numbers.
How and when will students close their mode of study? Students should be asked to choose in advance for a term/year whether they will attend ISLA classes face to face or via Teams/Zoom. This is important for tracking attendance and planning class activities. While there can be some flexibility, e.g. if a student is ill, students should not just be allowed to decide on the day how they attend.
Are there international students? ISLA is fully interactive synchronously for all students so is not really online learning. However, for international visa purposes only physical face to face attendance counts, so international students will have to be asked to attend in that mode.

It is important to be clear why ISLA/hybrid is pedagogically appropriate, and what options students will have as regards attendance.
Use of ISLA/hybrid delivery must be noted on the Module Specification and formally approved by PARC as part of updating Specifications, to ensure it is pedagogically sound etc.
As part of getting approval there will need to be Timetabling sign-off as there is a limit to the number of rooms which have ISLA equipment. https://city-uk-ett.libguides.com/staff/isla/rooms
Relevant staff need to be trained in advance to use the ISLA equipment. There are good written guides, but hands-on experience is important.
A student Copilot may be requested to assist with delivering classes, This request should be made when requesting an ISLA enabled room. https://city-uk-ett.libguides.com/staff/isla/co-pilots. E-mail for support once your module is approved for hybrid teaching: copilots@citystgeorges.ac.uk